Runway or chute for can-end-soldering machines.



No. 880,144. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. O. J. JOHNSON.

RUNWAY OR OHUTB FOR CAN END SOLDERING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN; 16. 1906. RENEWED JULY 31. 1907.

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UNITED STATES. PATENT Q OLIVER .r. JOHNSON, or WHEELING, wssr VIRGIN-IA.

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Patented. Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed anxiety 18' 1906- Sorta-1K0. 306.372- Benewed July 81. 1907 Serial No. 386.361.

Virginia, have invented a new and useful Im-' rovement in Runways or Chutes for Caning is a specification.

This invention relates to can runways or chutes for can end soldering machines of that kind, known as floaters, inwhich the cans are rolled in an inclined position along a horizontal soldering track with the circular edge of one end of the cans dipping into a bath of molten solder, and then pass down a runway or chute to a solder saver which removes the superfluous solder from the cans. The solder saver is ordinaril located at the side of the machine below t e soldering track to save floor space and the cans are conveyed through it in a direction opposite to their direction of movement on the soldering track. The runway between the soldering track and solder saver is constructed to effect the necessary change of direction of movement of the cans to deliver them'to the conveyer of the solder saver in the direction in which this conveyer moves withoutstopping, and to turn the cans into an upright position with the ends just soldered down so that the solder will settle evenly into the 'oi'nts to insure a perfect connection while t e cans are passing through the solder saver and cooling. A runway of this-character is disclosed in the patent granted to Livingston, .No. 492,034, dated Feb. 21,

1893. The runway, as usually constructed, is curved orlooped to changethe direction of movement of the cans from that on the soldering track to that through the solder saver and is also twisted to cause the cans to turn into upright position, so that the cans have a combined rolling, sliding and twisting mo: tion while passing through the runway. As the solder is still hot and soft while the cans are in the runwa the twisting of the cans while sliding on t eir ends, or any jarring of the cans is liable to disturb the ends and produce leaky joints.

The object of the invention-is to im rove the construction of these runways or cliutes to insure a smoother, freer movement of the cans and avoid any twisting or jarring thereof while passing through the runways which could dislodge or disturb the newly soldered ends and produce defective or leaky joints.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of one sheet: Figure 1 is a erspe'ctive view of'one end of a can end so dering machine provided with runways or chutes embodying the invention. Fig] 2 is a plan view of one of the runways. ig. 3 is a cross section thereof substantiall inline 33, Fig.2. nd-Soldering Machines, of which the follow- Like letters of re erence refer to like parts in the several figures.

A ortion of a can end soldering machine or cateris shown in Fig. 1 of the draw ings.

A represents a portion ofthe solder box or receptacle for the molten solder bath, B the horizontal, transversely inclined soldering track along which the cans are rolled by the chain 6 with the circular edge of one end dipping in the solder, and C the solder saver or device through which the cans are carried by a conveyer c and which removes the superfiuous solder from the cans. These parts are all of well known construction and operation.

The runway or chute connecting the rear or discharge end of the soldering track with the solder saver consists essentially of an upper portion D which joins the end of the soldering track and forms a curved and downwardly inclined continuation thereof, and a downwardly inclined substantially straight lower portion D which leads to the conveyer of the solder saver or other conveyer for the cans with its discharge or tail end extending in substantially the direction of movement of such conveyer. Neither portion of the runway is twisted or constructed to twist the cans into the upright position while sliding thereon, but the parts are so formed that the can rolls on its side throughout the length of the upperportion of the runway and slides on one end Without twistingthroughout the length of the lower portion ofthe runway.

in the construction illustrated in the drawings, each portion D D of the runway or chute has a bottom and sides composed of substantially parallel wires, rods or strips connected by suitable open frames, for holding them in position. The bottom wires or strips (1 and the side wires or strips (1 of the upper portion of the runway or chute are attached at their upper ends respectively to the ends of the bottom and sides of the solderin track, and all of the wires or strips extend from the soldering track at a downward inclination and in a curve, making substantially a quarter turn from the direction of the soldering? track; The outer or rear ends of the bottomwires or strips (2 are at-' tached to the inner side of an inclinedo en or rectangular frame E, and the ends d of the side wires d are bent downwardly and attached one to the top and the other to the bottom of the frame This frame E is supported in any suitable way, for instance, by a bracket e' projecting from the frame of the soldering machine, and has substantially the same inclination-as-the transverse inchnation of the bottom of the upper portion of the runway. The lower portion of the runwa is com osed of a bottom wire rod or stri and si e rods or strips f secured at their upper ends to the frame E and below this frame to a similar 0 en or rectangular frame g, which, like the ame E, is preferably supported by a bracket projecting from the frame of the soldering machine. The bottom wire, rod or strip of the lower portion of the runway is virtua y a continuation of the inner side strip of the up er ortion of the chute or runway and con be ormed by an integral prolongation thereof, and similarly 1 ,the bottom strips of the upper portion of the runway could be continued to form the inner side of the lower portion of the runway. The upper end of the strip at the outer side of the lower portion of the runway is curved 1nwardly and u wardly at h over the open frame E towar the upper ortion of the run way, the curve being sue as to guide the cams, without jarring them, through the open frame E into the-lower portion of the runway, and-the lower portion of the runwa is curved downwardly from the frame E instead of being a simple straight incline so that the cans will slide smoothly and without a sudden jar or shock into the lower portion of" the runway.' The lower portion of the runway is, as explained, curved or concaved downwardly but nottwisted or curved laterally.

The chuteor' runway constructed of the wires, rods or strips arran ed and shaped as described and shown in the drawings gives excellent results and insures a very rapid,

' free and smooth movement of the cans therethrough without twisting or jarring, and this construction is therefore deemed preferable, but the sides and bottom of the runway or chute could be differently constructed without departing from essential characteristics of the runway as a whole. y

The outer side strip f of the lower portion of the runway is preferably adjustable in and out'tosuit cans of different diameters. Any suitable adjusting means could be used. As shown, the strip is provided'with attaching stems i'whioh are ad ustably secured in holes in the frames E and g by set screws k.

In the operation of the soldering machine the cans are'rolled alo the soldering track by the chain b into the head end of the upper portion of the runway or chute and they roll y gravity down this upper portion of the after t runway on account of its inclination. As the upper portion of the runway is inclined transversel at substantially the same angle as the sol ering track and makes nearly a uarter turn, each can will be thereby turned t rough a considerable part of a circle b the time it reaches the open frame E, that is with its length extending lengthwise instead of crosswise with respect to the soldering track. As the can rolls off of the upper portion of the chute it will pass throu h the frame E in its inclined position and side on its lower end on the bottom of the lower portion of the chute or runway, passing from the same into the solder saver in a substantially upright position. The can "simply rolls on its side in the upper portion of the runway and slides on its lower end in the lower portion thereof, thus partaking in two distinct movements and not being twisted in either portion of the runway to turn it into the upright position. As is well known, e cans ass'through the solder saver at one side of t e machine they are returned to the soldering track at the op osite side of the machine to solder their otl ier ends and pass from this second soldering track thro h a runway similar to that described to t e second solder saver. Two runways are therefore employed with each machine but as the runways are similar in construction, only being pvpfiositely arranged, the description of one be sufficient for both.

I claim as my invention:

1. A can runway or chute machines, comprising a downwardly and laterally inclined and curved uplifg portion, and a lower portion which inc' es downwardly from the end of said curved upper portion and is substantially straight laterally, substantially as setforth.

2. A can runway or chute machines, comprising a downwardly and laterally inclined upper portion which is curved laterally, and a downwardly curved lower portion which inclines downwardly without substantial lateral change of direction from the end of said curved upper portion, substantially as set forth.

3. A can runway or chute for soldering machines, comprising a downwardly and latfor soldering erally inclined and curved upper portion,.

and a laterally straight lower portion which inclines downwardly from the end of said upper portion, each of said ortions being composed of bottom and si e strips, sub stantially as' set forth.

4. A can runway or chute for solderin machines, comprising alater'ally inclined and curved upper portion, and a ower ortion which is substantially straight latera ly and inclines downwardly and at an abrupt angle from the end of saidupper portion, substantially as set forth.

5. A can runway or chute, comprising a downwardly and laterally inclined and curved upper portion, a substantially laterally straight and inclined lower portion, and an open frame joining said up er and lower portions, substantially as set orth.

6. A canrunway or chute, comprising a downwardly and laterally inclined and curved up er portion, a substantially later ally straigiit and inclined lower portion, an open frame joining said u per and lower ortions, and a curved e-projecting up rom said lower portion over sald frame, substantially as set forth.

7. A can runway or chute for soldering machines, comprising a downwardly and-laterally inclined and curved upper portion, a laterally straight lower ortion which inclines downwardly from t e end of said upper'portion, each of said portions being'cornosed of bottom and side strips, and means or adj sting one side strip of the lower portion, su stantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 10th day of J anu- NEWTON WATTZ. 

